Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I was invited by Miriam at the Hachette Book Group to take part in the Host The Host Blog Tour in June. I'm very excited, because I love this book. My official tour date is June 25th, but there are tons of other great sites taking part, and I thought I'd give you a head's up.
June 1 - The Twilight Lexicon
June 2 - Bermudaonion
June 3 - My Friend Amy
June 4 - Twilight Series Theories
June 5 - Drey's Library
June 6 - Wendy's Minding Spot
June 7 - The Review From Here
June 8 - Peeking Between the Pages
June 9 - http://bestsellers.about.com/
June 10 - Thoughts From An Evil Overlord
June 11 - Never Not Reading
June 12 - Travels of a Bookworm
June 13 - A Circle of Books
June 14 - A Journey of Books
June 15 - Lovevampires.com
June 16 - Reading with Monie
June 17 - Write for a Reader
June 18 - Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
June 19 - Books, Movies and Chinese Food (sounds good!)
June 20 - Confessions of a Romance Book Addict
June 21 - Marta's Meanderings
June 22 - Booking Mama
June 23 - Wrighty's Reads
June 24 - Twilight Moms
June 25 - Right here at Today's Adventure!
June 26 - Bella's Novella
June 27 - Fire & Ice
June 28 - The Tome Traveller
June 29 - Vampire Wire
June 30 - Patricia's Vampire Notes

GIVEAWAY! Read the rules carefully.... if you don't follow them, you cannot win.

I also get to give away a copy of this fantastic book to one lucky reader! Open to the US and Canada, no PO boxes. To enter, go to my review of The Host and leave a comment (a comment that is more interesting than "Great review!" or "Please enter me!"), then come back here and tell me you did it. Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you.
+1 entry for following or subscribing to my blog (current followers/subscribers get the extra entry as well, just be sure to mention it).
+1 entry for blogging about this giveaway and mentioning my tour date, June 25th.
A winner will be chosen and contacted by email on June 25th. Good luck!

Review: The Prairie Bridesmaid by Daria Salamon

Last word first: A funny, sad, but ultimately uplifting novel. Read it!

Description: Just into her thirties, Anna Lasko is a frustrated high school teacher whose abusive boyfriend, Adam is away for four months. Thinking she's going to a bridal shower, Anna finds herself in the middle of an intervention by her friends, trying to convince her to break up with Adam. The Prairie Bridesmaid gives an in-depth look at Anna's life, from her relationship with her fiercely independent grandmother to her thoughts on the geeky kids in her writing group to her fights with her bridezilla of a friend, Sara.

My Thoughts: This book was different than I thought it would be. Based on the cover blurbs, I was expecting a slightly dark romantic comedy. The Prairie Bridesmaid has many laugh out loud moments, but it's not really a comedy, but rather a chronicle of Anna's attempts to break free of a poisonous relationship.

Like watching a car wreck, I was cringing but couldn't look away as I read about the beginnings of Anna's relationship with Adam, the first moments when she realizes something is wrong. Through the use of flashbacks, the author relates moments in time that show how Anna got to where she is, so tangled in a relationship that she can't get out, even though she doesn't even like the man she's supposed to love.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Bridesmaid is incredibly readable, largely due to the humorous and well-written extra characters. Anna's grandmother, a Ukranian immigrant who is obsessed with planning her funeral and refuses to leave her farm even though she is nearly blind, was my favorite. Anna has a group of interfering but supportive girlfriends who also deserve a mention. Anna herself is a delightfully quirky and flawed protagonist... you can't help but root for her. At least I couldn't, even when I was internally yelling at her to smarten up.

Great writing and fantastic characters make this story worth checking out. It's more than just chick lit!

About the Author: DARIA SALAMON is a freelance writer whose work has been published by the Globe and Mail, the Winnipeg Free Press and Uptown Magazine. Her short fiction and creative non-fiction has been shortlisted for the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Emerging Writer Short Fiction Award, the Larry Turner Award for Creative Non-Fiction, and the Canadian Authors Association’s North of 55 Writing Contest. In 2005, she wrote a monthly humour column on wedding planning for the Winnipeg Free Press called “The Wedding Diaries.” She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From the Prairie Bridesmaid website.

Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Slightly Off Topic: Books Into Movies

This week I'm talking about movies made from books. Specifically, ones I think were done well. The rare occasion when I like the book AND the movie. And I'm insanely picky, so that's pretty tough to do. Here are a few that have succeeded.

The Princess Bride. I actually saw the movie before I ever read the book. My brothers and I had this movie completely memorized. When my mom would finally kick us outside and away from the tv, we would recite it to each other. Yes, we were pathetically addicted, but it was fun. Except I always had to be Buttercup, who has the dumbest lines. I wanted to be Inigo. Anyway. It turns out the book is great too, full of dry humor. It's an oldie, but well worth reading.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. They managed to take my least favorite of the books (I still love it, though) and turn it into what is so far my favorite of the movies. I thought they did a fabulous job casting the main characters way back when, and now that they're growing up a bit they're even better. And Luna Lovegood was fantastic!

Where the Heart Is. I think this is one of those stories that you either find incredibly touching or incredibly annoying. I love it. How can you not love a story where the main character gives birth in a Wal-mart? Or where a woman names her children after the cravings she had while pregnant with them? Praline!?

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I own the extended DVDs and I have watched all the extra footage. The amount of detail that went into these movies astounds me. I am far from a LOTR buff, but in my mind, the movies really capture the feeling of the books, if not every single detail. The movies are better! I might get crucified for saying this, but I think the books can be a little draggy here and there. And I LOVE Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. I don't like him in any other movie I've seen him it, but I the "Not This Day" speech in Return of the King gives me chills.

So these are some of my favorites. What do you think? and.. What are yours? Are there any movies done from books that you found particularly good? Do you generally like movies made from your favorite books, or not?

Movie Review: UP

I don't usually review movies, but last night I went to see Pixar's new one, UP, and I just have to tell you - I loved it. Pixar has done it again.

I'm sure you all have an idea what the movie is about, but I'll give you a brief overview, anyway. UP tells the story of Mr. Fredrickson, the man who decides to fly his house in search of adventure. Fly his house? Yes, indeed. He attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house and flys it away. He is accompanied by Russell, a Wilderness Explorer (like a Boy Scout) seeking to complete his "Assisting the Elderly" badge.

This movie was hilarious! I was laughing from pretty much the first second all the way to the end. But what really set this apart from Pixar's previous films was the story. Mr. Fredrickson didn't just wake up one morning and decide to fly his house away, he's trying to fulfill a promise he made to his deceased wife. The first 20 minutes or so of the movie is all about Fredrickson's life, from the time he met Ellie when they were children through to her death. While still being great for kids, this movie manages to be far more adult friendly than, say, Cars.

I'm having a hard time picking a favorite character. Russell was adorable, Fredrickson was crusty-riffic, there's a dog who can talk via a fancy collar that is absolutely hilarious... it's a tough call.

I took my almost four year old daughter to see this movie, but I think that was probably a mistake. While she was extremely taken with the idea of a flying house (she's begging me to get her some helium balloons), there were several parts of the movie that were a little too intense for her. Most notably, the film's villain has a pack of dogs that chase down intruders for him, and that part was pretty scary. We had to leave the theater a few minutes before the end of the movie. I think she would have been ok if we were watching on a TV screen, but the theater being so loud, she was seriously freaked out.

I have been a fan of Pixar movies since Toy Story, but I think I might have a new favorite. If you're looking for a movie to take your kids to this weekend, this would be a great one! If you don't have kids, borrow one so you have an excuse to go!

Series Review + GIVEAWAY: The Pendergast Novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

I just finished reading the eighth book in this series, and I thought rather than reviewing all eight individually, or reviewing the eighth without giving you any background, I would review the series as a whole instead.

Aloysius Pendergast is an FBI agent with a decidedly unorthodox approach. The crimes he investigates tend to be not entirely of this world. Not that there are ghosties and ghoulies, but rather strange forces that cannot be entirely explained by logic.

These books have that perfect balance of scary where they are definitely creepy, but they aren't going to give you nightmares. I love them! The action is fast paced and these books are total page-turners, guaranteed to keep you up all night reading.

Pendergast himself has the potential to be one of the iconic sleuths. His eccentricities and strange methods make the books stand out from the crowd. Lincoln and Child, who each have books published solo, make a dynamic writing team! I abosolutely recommend this series.

For the most part, the novels in this series are stand-alone and can be read out of order without too much trouble. However, I think they're better in sequence:
1. Relic
2. Reliquary
3. The Cabinet of Curiosities
4. Still Life With Crows
5. Brimstone (Diogenes Trilogy Book One)
6. Dance of Death (Diogenes Trilogy Book Two)
7. The Book of the Dead (Diogenes Trilogy Book Three)
8. The Wheel of Darkness
9. Cemetary Dance

About the Authors: Website. Douglas Preston is a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, a member of PEN New Mexico, and a board member of the School of American Research in Santa Fe. He counts in his ancestry the poet Emily Dickinson, the newspaperman Horace Greeley, and the infamous murderer and opium addict Amasa Greenough.
Lincoln Child's interests include: pre-1950s literature and poetry; post-1950s popular fiction; playing the piano, various MIDI instruments, and the 5-string banjo; English and American history; motorcycles; architecture; classical music, early jazz, blues, and R&B; exotic parrots; esoteric programming languages; mountain hiking; bow ties; Italian suits; fedoras; archaeology; and multiplayer deathmatching.

GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to the wonderful Anna at Hachette Book Group, I am able to give away three copies of the latest book in this series, Cemetary Dance, in audio format. To enter, comment here with your email address. Get an extra entry for becoming a follower and another one for posting this giveaway on your blog or social networking site. Good luck!

Review: Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

Last word first: A great look at childbirth, with so much more detail than that chapter at the back of "What to Expect."

About the Book (from the Hachette site): With chapters such as "Obstetricians: Finding Dr. Right," "Epidurals: You Haven't Got Time for the Pain," and "Electronic Monitors: Reading between the Lines," Lake and Epstein will encourage you to consider whatever your doctor, mother, and best friend may suggest in a new light. The book also includes inspiring birth stories, including those from well-known personalities, such as Laila Ali and Cindy Crawford. Packed with crucial advice from childbirth professionals, and delivered in a down-to-earth, engaging voice, YOUR BEST BIRTH is sure to renew your confidence and put the control back where it belongs: with parents-to-be!

My Thoughts: After two children of my own, hearing dozens of birth stories from my friends, and watching hundreds of episodes of "A Baby Story" on TLC, I didn't think there was much related to childbirth that I hadn't at least heard of. Turns out I was wrong.

In "Your Best Birth," authors Ricki Lake (yes, that Ricki Lake) and Abby Epstein do a great job of telling it like it is, presenting tons of different options for delivery venue, pain control, procedures, etc. I really enjoyed the sidebars with celebrity birth stories, including Laila Ali and Cindy Crawford (because who doesn't love to hear about the stars screaming obsenities at their husbands?).

I thought that this was a fairly balanced book, but the biggest complaint I have heard about this book from other readers is that it "pushes natural childbirth." I think maybe we are all too used to thinking about childbirth as a medical problem, requiring medical intervention, when really it's a natural process. Sometimes medical intervention is necessary (I've had two inductions and an epidural) but I don't think this should always be our first answer. Sure, it's easier to just listen to whatever your doctor tells you to do, but I think we each have a responsibility to be informed, use our critical thinking skills, and make decisions about our healthcare. Even if that decision is "I'm going to do whatever my doctor tells me."

This book was well-written; I found the style enjoyable and easy to understand. If you're from Canada, or anywhere outside the US, for that matter, keep in mind that parts of this book aren't going to apply to you, since our health care system is so different.

Overall, I thought this was a great book. Even if you don't agree with the authors' views, it's good to get a different perspective.

About the Authors: RICKI LAKE is an actress, host of the long-running Ricki Lake talk show, and natural childbirth advocate, based in LA and New York. ABBY EPSTEIN is a New York-based filmmaker and natural childbirth advocate.

Giveaway: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

Courtesy of Valerie at the Hachette Book Group, I am bringing you another fantastic giveaway. This time the prize is The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos.

Description: Pelecanos (Drama City) delivers a dignified, character-driven epic that succeeds as both literary novel and page-turner. In 1985, the body of a 14-year-old girl turns up in a Washington, D.C., park, the latest in a series of murders by a killer the media dub "The Night Gardener." T.C. Cook, the aging detective on the case, works with a quiet, almost monomaniacal, focus. Also involved are two young uniformed cops, Gus Ramone, who's diligent, conscientious and unimpressed by heroics, and Dan "Doc" Holiday, an adrenaline junkie who's decidedly less straight.

Fast forward 20 years. Detective Ramone, now married with kids of his own, investigates the murder of one of his teenage son's friends. The homicide closely resembles the earlier unsolved Night Gardener murders. Holiday, now an alcoholic chauffeur and bodyguard, follows the case on his own and tracks down Cook, long retired but still obsessed with the original murders. While the three work together toward a suspenseful ending, Pelecanos emphasizes the fallacy of "solving" a murder and explores the ripple effects of violent crime on society

RULES
I have up to five copies to give away. And just to keep it interesting, I'm going to do it like this: if 1-10 people enter, I will choose one winner. If 11-20 people enter, I will choose two winners. If 21-30 people enter, 3 winners. And if more than 30 enter, I will choose 5 winners. Confused yet?

Open to the US and Canada, no PO Boxes. Contest closes June 10th. To enter, just comment here with your email address. No email address, no prize for you. You'll get an extra entry for every person who enters the contest and tells me you sent them here, as long as they mention the name signed to your comment. Good luck!

If you just can't wait to read this, click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Last word first: I loved it, and when I finish this review, I am going out to find all other books written by this author. Paper Towns is hilariously funny, well-written, and has a cast of characters you can't help but love.

"The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle... My miracle was this: out of all the houses in all the subdivisions in all of Florida, I ended up living next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman."

All his life, Q has adored Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she shows up at his window in the middle of the night, asking him to be her getaway driver on a mission of revenge, of course he says yes. Q thinks maybe their new bond will change things between him and Margo, but she's become even more of a mystery.

My thoughts: I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh this hard. Margo's revenge makes me want to go out and make some enemies so I can play these pranks on them. Q and his friends are a bunch of disgustingly accurate teenage boys (not that I've ever been a teenage boy, but my husband tells me that, yes, they are this gross among themselves), but wittier than most teenage boys, and I was laughing out loud pretty much every time they spoke.

Aside from the humor, this book talks about a lot of serious issue that apply not just to teens. Though there is the typical coming of age type of theme, it is visited in a way that I found fresh and interesting. Paper Towns also has a lot to say about the way we percieve others, and whether we can ever truly understand another person. I think this book has one of the best perspectives I've ever read on the walls that make you feel alone in a room full of people. I wish my younger self could have read this book.

As a side note, I find it interesting that authors always write such emotionally mature teenagers.

I am struck by how incredibly quotable this book is. Here are a couple of my favorites:

"She wore white shorts and a pink T-shirt that featured a green dragon breathing a fire of orange glitter. It is difficult to explain how awesome I found this T-shirt at the time."

"I'm not sure what you're supposed to say to the checkout lady at twelve-thirty in the morning when you put thirteen pounds of catfish, Veet, the fat-daddy size tub of Vaseline, a six-pack of Mountain Dew, a can of blue spray paint, and a dozen tulips on the conveyer belt. But here's what I said: 'This isn't as weird as it looks.'
The woman cleared her throat but didn't look up. 'Still weird,' she muttered."

About John Green: When he was little, he wanted to be an earthworm scientist. (There is a word for such a person: oligochaetologist.) But he killed off his entire earthworm farm due to his general inability to care for pets. Later, he made a list of things he was good at. The list included "telling lies" and "sitting." So he became a writer.

Wishlist Wednesday: Geektastic

Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci.
Release date: August 1, 2009

Description from the Hachette Book Group website: Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

Doesn't this book sound awesome? There are some great authors in here.

Review: Unplugged by Lois Greiman

Last word first: Fantastic! Funny, sexy and completely entertaining. Great for Stephenie Plum fans. Book 2 of a series. This review contains no spoilers, and this book reads pretty well stand alone. You can read my review of the first book, Unzipped, here.

Description: Having recovered from her previous unfortunate bout with a completely unhinged client, psychologist Chrissy McMullen is back in the armchair, counselling her merely kooky clients. And life is pretty good. Until sexist computer geek JD Solberg disappears. Which you would think would be cause for celebration! But Chrissy's best friend Elaine is head over heels for Solberg, so Chrissy sets her mind to finding the creep.

Before too long, Chrissy realizes she's not the only one looking for Solberg, and that he might be in more trouble than she thought. Time to call in Lieutenant Jack Rivera to the rescue! If only he weren't so irritating.

What I liked about this book: It was fast-paced and funny. I don't know why this series isn't better known, because it's pure entertainment. Chrissy makes an engaging protagonist, and I love Rivera.

What I didn't like: Well, it's not terribly original, but in this case it wasn't a huge downside for me.

Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Clean Out the Bookbox Giveaway!

I have a box in my closet full of books that need new owners. Aren't they cute? Don't they look lonely? They're good books, I just don't have room for them all.

I know you can't really see from the photo, so here's a list of what's in there:
The Big Love - Sarah Dunn
Big Boned - Meg Cabot
Starbucked - Taylor Clark
Garbage Land - Elizabeth Royte
A Sending of Dragons - Jane Yolen
How I Write - Janet Evanovich
Ruby's Slippers - Leanna Ellis
Laura Rider's Masterpiece - Jane Hamilton
Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch
Fire at Midnight - Lisa Marie Wilkinson
Kitty Raises Hell - Carrie Vaughn
Afraid - Jack Kilborn
Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder
Isle of View - Piers Anthony
The Stepsister Scheme - Jim C. Hines
Divided in Death - JD Robb
Creation in Death - JD Robb
Loyalty in Death - JD Robb
Lean, Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich

So, help me out. I will give you my books! For every 25 people that enter, I will select one winner. For one entry, just comment here with your EMAIL ADDRESS and tell me which book you would like. Maybe tell me your top two picks, just in case. For extra entries:
+1 blog about this giveaway and tell me about it.
+1 become a follower (or tell me you already are one).
+1 Tell me one thing you really like about my blog, or one thing you think I could do to improve it. (Just so you know, I'm not trying to fish for compliments, I'm just looking for feedback on how to get better!)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Open to the US and Canada. Winner(s) will be chosen on June 25th and contacted by email.

Review: Wake by Lisa McMann

Your dreams are not your own.

Imagine yourself forced to watch the dreams of everyone around you. Every embarrassing moment, every sexy encounter, every nightmare. That is exactly the curse 18 year old Janie has experienced since she was 8 years old. Privy to information she doesn't want, and unable to escape the terrifying nightmares, Janie thinks she might lose her mind.

I really came to this book with no expectations. I had a basic idea what the story was about, but that's it. And I was happily surprised. This is a fast, fun, pleasantly creepy read. Kind-hearted Janie is an extremely likeable main character, and the troubled outcast Cabel (I keep wanting to call him CaLEB, but that's not it) is a great counterpoint to keep the tension on. There's a bit of a romance, which is always a plus in my opinion (Warning: there's enough sexual content that I wouldn't recommend this book for younger teens). But my favorite feature of this book was simply the very cool concept of entering other people's dreams... I wouldn't want to be able to do it, but it makes for interesting reading.

My only real complaint about this book is the lack of a unifying plot line. There's a bit of a story thrown in at the end, but it felt like an afterthought. The book was interesting enough that I didn't mind, but I'm interested to see where McMann takes this story with the sequel, Fade.

Final word: 4 points. Creepily entertaining with a healthy splash of romance.

Website for Lisa McMann.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

More opinions - Devourer of Books

Favorite Authors: Orson Scott Card

I've decided to do a semi-regular (probably once a month) featuring some favorite authors of mine. I'll do some mini-reviews of a sampling of their books that I wouldn't do full reviews for because it might have been a while since I read them. Hopefully everyone will get a chance to discover an author they're not familiar with.

Today we're talking about Orson Scott Card. He's probably best known for the amazing Ender's Game, but he has a ton of other books out as well. Here are a few of them:

The Memory of Earth. A computer called the Oversoul has been given guardianship of the planet called Harmony. But the Oversoul is in need of repair, so it selects a few people to learn about space travel and return to Earth in hopes of finding the means to fix it. First of a five book series. Rating 4 of 5. I always hate describing the premise of sci-fi books, because people roll their eyes. But it's good, really! The characters are fantastic, and the interpersonal problems posed are intriguing. The book is about so much more than just a galaxy far, far away.

Enchantment. A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, this story is set in modern times. Ivan is wandering in the forest when he stumbles upon the sleeping Katerina, a princess from a world that vanished ages ago. As Ivan and Katerina encounter the absolute strangeness of each other's worlds, they also try to decide how they feel about each other. Rating 4 of 5. I love retold fairy tales and the way this one worked in several different stories. The characters are great, too!

There is one book from Orson Scott Card that I would not recommend- Homebody. It's the story of a woman whose spirit is trapped in a house, and a man comes and starts to fix the house and they fall in love. It was weird and I didn't like it. So if you've read the book, don't judge the author based on it!

So that wraps up this episode of My Favorite Authors. Do you like this series idea? Should I do it again? I appreciate any comments you have for me.

Slightly Off Topic: Different Covers for the Same Book

Today I'd like to talk about some of the alternative covers we see on books. This happens fore a variety of reasons. One of the most common examples is a movie-tie-in edition that comes out with the movie poster art. Another reason a book might come out with different covers is because one is designed to market to a different audience (like adult vs. YA). A familiar example would be the covers for the Harry Potter books. Some of them are different because they're paperback vs. hardcover. Others are international cover art.

First up: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

The first is, I believe, a limited edition printing marketed to adults. With a toddler walking a bloody knife blade accompanied by a ghost, it is certainly appropriate to the story. However, it's CREEPY! I can see why they chose to go with the much less scary child's silhouette/tombstone cover most of us will be familiar with.

Next, a variety of international covers for Twilight by Stephenie Meyer:Clockwise from top left.First is the cover we all know and love from the North American version. #2 is the Japan cover art. #3 is from the Czech Republic, and I think is has a VERY different feel from the others. #4 is the cover from Indonesia, where I guess Bella is blonde. Or maybe she's not pretty enough so they put Rosalie on the cover. You can see more international covers at Stephenie Meyer's website.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I'm just guessing, but I think this book has multiple covers because the look was changed on later editions to work better with the covers of the subsequent books in the series. The cover on the most recent paperback editions is the far right.

There are so many examples of different covers that I could never show them all to you. What about this batch? Which one of each group do you like best? Did the marketing magicians make the right choice?

Review: The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer

A gifted medical student gets on a plane to South America and becomes the victim of a terrible and mysterious crime... In Africa, a scientist on the verge of medical breakthrough is in need of medical intervention himself... A private detective answers a help wanted ad that changes his life. In The Fifth Vial, these three completely different people are woven together in a way none of them could have imagined. This chilling book uses the example of a fictional company to explore the frightening possibilities of black-market organ trafficking.

This book gave me chills up my spine. Not necessarily because it is frightening in itself, but because it all seems so very plausible. In the story, a secret society of doctors has taken it into their own hands to decide who should receive donor organs. Usually whoever has the most money or power to pay for it. And they don't really care if the donor of the organs is finished with them yet. A business tycoon will make better use of that heart than a waitress from Tennessee. That lung would be put to better use in a doctor than a mentally handicapped man. Where do you draw the line?

I had guessed a lot of what was going to happen in this book by the time I was one third into it, but I still really enjoyed it. The story jumps around between the different characters, which is not a style I typically enjoy, but it was very well done here and I found each story line kept feeding into the others effectively. There was enough action to really keep me flying through, but the best part of this book was the creepy way it kept me wondering... I'm definitely going to be paying attention to how many vials of my blood get taken the next time I go in for tests =o)

My final word: 4 out of 5. A great thriller which will be especially enjoyed by the conspiracy theorists among us. I'm taking away a point because the characters and dialogue seemed a little plastic from time to time.

Website for Michael Palmer.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Man Jack enters the sleeping house, and murders all the inhabitants. All, that is, except one tiny toddler, who crawls out of house and hides in a nearby graveyard. The Man Jack is still seeking the child, and will find him if he leaves the protection of the graveyard, so the ghosts of the graveyard rally to protect the infant, naming him Nobody Owens (Bod). Bod grows up among the ghosts, under the tutelage of the mysterious Silas. It's a happy enough life, if lonely, but always wondering who he is and why the Man Jack is looking for him.

This is my second time reading a Gaiman book (the first was Coraline), and I'm beginning to think he's the master of a style I'm going to call spooky-sweet. Even though this book has ghosts in it, I didn't find it scary (though enough people have told me the first chapter scared them that I'm going to put a FEAR warning on this review..haha). In my experience, this book wasn't about being scary. It was about Bod's loneliness and his search to uncover his past.

That's not to say there aren't hair-raising adventures in this book, because there are. The benevolent ghosts aren't the only things "living" in the graveyard, and Bod is an inordinately curious child who seems to get into a lot of trouble. I really enjoyed both Bod and Silas as characters. A side storyline involving Bod's friend from the outside it sweet and heartbreaking.

My final word: 4 out of 5. It's exciting, it's well written. It's a book about ghosts and murderers that I can best sum up as "sweet." Definitely worth reading.

Website for Neil Gaiman.
Website for The Graveyard Book (The British cover art is way creepier than the North American!
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Wishlist Wednesday - Fire

Author: Kristin Cashore
Release date: October 6, 2009
Preorder here.

Description from the author's website: Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

As I write this, I just finished reading my ARC of Fire last night. And it's FANTASTIC! This prequel of Graceling (check out my review) is possibly even better. Great characters, great story, and more of Cashore's entrancing writing. This book is due out in Oct., so you still have time to buy Graceling and read it.

Ink and Paper Interview!

Jo, who writes those great fantasy book reviews over at her blog, Ink and Paper, has featured me in her weekly book blogger interview. I'm very flattered that she's decided to feature my blog. Thanks, Jo! You're the best! So, head on over to the interview and read up about... me! Maybe you'll learn something you didn't know. And while you're there, be sure and have a look around Jo's blog, because it's great.

Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Description (from the book cover): ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together in the Invention of Hugo Cabret.

My thoughts: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is true, you would need 284,000 words to make the equal of this amazing book. I've never read anything like it, actually. It's a novel, but it's also a little like a graphic novel and a bit like a movie. This is a quick read with all the pictures, and I whipped through it in a couple hours, with lots of time spent poring over the drawings. I wish I could draw, but if you scroll down below you'll see why a book of drawings by me would never be a big seller.

For me, the story really took second place to the drawings, but it's still a cute tale. I think I'll be reading it to my daughter when she's a little older, though she is already entranced with the pictures.

My final word: 4 out of 5. You have to see this book.

Website for The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Battle of the Artists: Brian Selznick vs. Me
You be the judge.

Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

More than a decade after renowned detective Sherlock Holmes retired into a quiet life of study and beekeeping, 15 year old Mary Russell nearly trips over him as she's walking the fields near her home. Mary's quick mind appeals to Holmes, and the two strike up an odd friendship, with Holmes becoming Mary's mentor and teaching her the art of detecting.

As Mary grows older, she begins to help Holmes with his cases. World War I is raging and there is much work to be done. Then, just as the war is coming to an end, a villain appears on the scene with a vendetta against Holmes. Mary and her mentor are hard pressed to keep up, never mind get ahead, and this may be the greatest challenge Holmes has ever faced.

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. I first read the Arthur Conan Doyle books when I was about 12 years old, and I have reread them many times over the years. So how is it that I never knew this book existed? It's fantastic, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. The book has a very similar feel to the original books, though Watson has only a minor role. The narrator in this case is Mary Russell, and the major difference our new narrator makes is that there is more emotional content (a good thing, to my mind).

This is definitely a slightly different interpretation of the character of Sherlock Holmes, but I think it holds true to the original character. One of my favorite Holmes escapades is the one where Watson is almost killed (The League of Red-Headed Men, perhaps?) and for a moment you see the strong character that exists in Sherlock Holmes. He's not just a brain on legs! This book gives you more of that side of Holmes, and it makes great reading. This adventure comes complete with obscure clues, character analyses based on minicule details, and brilliant arch-villain.

My final word: 4 out of 5. Perhaps the purest of purists will not like this book, but I thought it was fantastic.

Book 1 of the Mary Russell series.
Website for Laurie R. King.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Our New Puppy!

Sorry for this completely off topic post, but I'm excited! We just got our first photo of our new puppy! He's not very photogenic yet, but isn't he cute? He's a labradoodle, and should have medium-long curly hair when he's older. The person he's coming from wants us to name him now so they can start calling him by name, but we're having trouble coming up with a name we like... any suggestions?

Slightly Off Topic: The Book Review- A User's Guide

I recently read a post by a fellow blogger in which she basically said that book blogs are useless as a resource because "out of 10 different blogs, you get 10 different opinions." The great irony is that this person is in fact a book blogger.

With all due respect, I disagree. Not that ten different people are going to have ten different opinions, because that is undeniably true. Rather, I disagree with the idea that this is a bad thing. The nature of a book review is that it is an opinion. And opinions are going to be different. One of the great things about a book is that it will affect everyone differently. A book that I hate, you might love. It's an impossible-to-quantify chemical reaction, like the way your friend's perfume smells great on her and terrible on you. I think it's great that book reviews rarely agree. It would be a terrible thing if we all liked the same old books, and a book was either good (everyone likes it) or bad (no one likes it) with no room for discussion.


So, here are some helpful hints on what you can look for in a book review and how to make a book review work for you. Other than basics like enjoyable writing(for the blogger, not the author) and the ability to spell (or use spellcheck), here are a few things you should find in a review:

1. A good book review will give you an idea what the book is about, without spoiling it for you. So, if it's a book about highschool and you've still got PTSD from your teen years, you know this book is probably not for you.
2. There should be some kind of analysis of the quality of the book. Even just "it was good" is fine. But if the writer had terrible grammar or couldn't write a believable character to save her life, the review should mention it.
3. The review should give you an idea of the impact the book has on the reader. This is where it gets tricky. Everyone is going to react to a book differently, and to get the maximum benefit from a review, you should find some reviewers who tend to like the books you do. This means you have to follow them for a while and get a feel for what they like.

I happen to think blogs in particular are a fantastic venue for book reviews for a number of reasons.

1. It's easy to start a blog. That means there are a lot of them out there. No matter what your taste is, I guarantee there is a blogger out there who is going to have great recommendations for you.
2. Book bloggers tell it like it is. The vast majority of us (correct me if I'm wrong) do this because we love it. We love books, we love telling people about books, we love angsting about how best to express both of the above. (I hear someone saying "no way, I'm here for the fame and fortune!" Good luck with that). Because we're here for our own entertainment, we tell you our real opinions of these books.
3. Blogs are accessible. And people read them... we hope.
4. And those are just a few of the reasons!

To sum up: Are book blogs worthwhile? YES! And that concludes my rant/instruction for today. What do you think? Are book reviews (and the blogs they're on) worth reading? If not, why are we blogging here, anyway? What makes a good review?

Book Bloggers on Shelfari

If the number of you with Shelfari widgets is any indication, there's quite a few active Shelfari users out there in bloggerdom. I couldn't find a group for us on Shelfari, so I made one. If you want to find/chat with other bloggers or find more blogs to read, this is the place for you. Feel free to stop by my profile and friend me if you like, because I love combing through people's shelves.

Also, I'm going away for three weeks. I'll still be posting, but I might be a little slow answering emails. Here's a preview of what I have coming up in the next few weeks:
Book reviews - The Beekeeper's Apprentice, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Fifth Vial, Wake, The Graveyard Book... and many more!
Giveaways: The Host by Stephenie Meyer, and Clean Out My Bookbox!
I'm being interviewed by Jo at Ink and Paper!

Review: Peony in Love by Lisa See

Peony is a young girl full of romantic hopes and dreams. Betrothed to a suitor she has never met, she knows that true love is most likely not her destiny. Yet she is inspired by her favorite opera, The Peony Pavilion and she cannot help but hope. And so when a young man at a performance of the opera speaks with her, Peony agrees to meet him secretly, even though it could ruin her. They fall in love and what follows is the story of their tragic and enduring romance.

I'm going to do something a little different with this book and describe it in terms of the themes it encompasses.

The power of art. The play, The Peony Pavilion, is a major force in this story. Girls all over China are influenced by the play and become lovesick, even starving themselves as they are drawn to the dream of the powerful romance of the opera. Over and over through this story, poetry is used to communicate hope and loss.

Women's freedom. Peony and her peers are extremely restricted. She describes them as "trapped like good-luck crickets in bamboo-and-laquer cages." Being from a wealthy and privilaged family, Peony has never even been outside the walls of her home. Her only freedom lies in her education and writings, but even that is ridiculed as unworthy because she is a woman.

Love. Peony's romantic notions of love grow and change as time passes in the story. From her relationships with and understanding of other women, to her love for her mysterious poet, she grows and matures from a well-meaning but basicly clueless girl to a true understanding of love and selflessness.

In summary, this is a wonderful, but emotionally difficult book. There were several points where I just wanted to put it down and walk away, but I kept being pulled back by the intense story line and bewitching prose. There are some strong similarities in themes and style to Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and if you like one, you will most likely enjoy the other.

The final word: 5 out of 5. Highly recommended, unless you are looking for simple, uncomplicated happy endings.

Website for Lisa See. You'll find a Q&A, a sample chapter and lots more information about this book. If you can't see the embedded video below, that's there as well.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.


Second opinions:
Kiss a Cloud 2 part review here and here.
A Novel Menagerie.
You're next! Comment below with a link if you would like me to add your review.

Review: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Once a month, eight strangers come together for cooling lessons from the vibrant Lillian. They come to cooking class for a variety of reasons. Companionship, alone time, the gift certificates they got last Christmas. They end up learning much more than just how to prepare sustenance. With her almost magical understanding of food, Lillian's classes gift each person with a unique lesson.

WARNING: This book will make you hungry. You may also experience a strange urge to go to your local market and buy strange (essential?) ingredients.

I'm having a hard time describing this book, but trust me, it's worth reading. Each chapter of the book focuses on the life of one of the participants in the cooking class, and as their lessons continue, their lives begin to weave together in unexpected ways. While I find it unlikely that in a room with nine people, everyone is essentially a good, likeable person, I really enjoyed all the characters. I think almost any reader will find someone to relate to in this book.

No matter how good the characters are, they are often more of a backdrop for the true star of the story: the food. Bauermeister's magical writing makes Lillian's polentas, tortillas, and lobster almost better than eating the real thing.

This book had really great pacing. In a story that shifts its central character so often, it can be difficult to maintain a cohesive feel, but this story manages it handily. Each chapter stands alone, and yet really feeds into the next. I don't usually read "foodie fiction," (in fact, I had no idea there was such a genre!) but if it's all like this I could get into it.

Final word: An enthralling book with great characters and descriptions that will make your mouth water, well worth reading.

Erica Bauermeister's website, with an excerpt, author Q&A, and discussion questions for the book.
Click the book cover to purchase from Amazon.

Second opinions: All About {n}

Interview: Author Gail Graham

NotNessie: Today I have the great honor of welcoming author Gail Graham to Today's Adventure. Gail is the author of seven books, including her most recent novel, Sea Changes. You can read my review here. Thanks very much Gail, for agreeing to this Q&A.

Gail Graham: And thank you for inviting me.

N: Sea Changes is an interesting blend of genres. What inspired you to write this novel?

GG: I have always been fascinated by the idea that what we call sanity is contingent, different in different times and different cultures. Years ago, people who heard voices were considered sages, or prophets. Now, we say they’re crazy and medicate them until they don’t hear the voices anymore. So I wanted to write a novel about sanity, and reality – which is also contingent, as particle physics teaches us. I’d been thinking about this for a couple of years when I saw a BBC documentary about people who believed they’d been abducted by aliens and taken to a spaceship and experimented upon. This sounds really crazy, but these people were so ordinary, so unprepossessing. They certainly weren’t publicity seekers. Some of them were almost inarticulate. But they believed in themselves, and in what they’d experienced. And I wondered what that would be like, to live with the dichotomy, simultaneously knowing what happened to you was impossible, and knowing that it had happened. Sea Changes came out of those ideas.

N: You have experienced grief in your life, much like Sarah. How much has your life experience influenced the character?

GG: Very much. One writes out of one’s life experiences and absolutely nothing in my life prepared me for the experience of widowhood. It was as if I’d disappeared. One minute I was somebody, and the next minute I was invisible. And this didn’t have anything to do with my own self perception or self esteem. This has to do with the way other people saw me. And people in our culture simply don’t see widows. The man who loses his wife still has his identity, but the woman who loses her husband has to reinvent herself. You have to force people to see you. The grief is awful, but when the worst of the grief has passed, discovering that you no longer exist – in the sense that you used to exist – is absolutely devastating.

N: Sarah is extremely critical of Australia and Australians. Did you enjoy your own time living in that country?

GG: I lived in Australia for 32 years, and – like de Toqueville – only learned to appreciate my own country through the experience of living someplace else. America is far from perfect, but I often think that we just don’t realize how lucky we are. Australians have no work ethic, and despise education. That’s very different from the United States, where we value our work and take pride in it, and are continually trying to improve ourselves. I didn’t fit in. Sarah didn’t fit in, either. Not fitting in is bad enough, but at some point, you decide that you don’t even want to fit in, you don’t want to be like them. Much of Sea Changes came from the very real anomie I felt in Australia, especially during the 13 years after my husband died.

N: When I was reading your website, I noticed that you have written a biography of Mao Zedong which is used as a textbook in Singapore schools. You have also written two books about your son’s struggles with a severe injury. Is there a particular one of your writings (or other accomplishments) that you are most proud of?

GG: I guess my proudest moment was when my second book about my son, A Long Season In Hell, was launched at Parliament House in Canberra by Senator Brian Harridine. My son was there, too. And he was so proud! It didn’t make up for all that had happened – and unfortunately, it didn’t change anything insofar as how the head-injured are treated in Australia – but it was a wonderful moment and one that I will always cherish.

N: Tell me a bit about your writing process.

GG: I usually start with a character. I put him or her in a situation, and just start writing. The story grows out of the situation, and the character develops as she (or he) copes with the situation. Although I have a plot in mind, I very rarely end up following it. I let the characters take control, and go with the flow. But I rewrite endlessly, and compulsively. There is one page in Sea Changes that was rewritten 104 times! I often don’t know exactly where I’m going, but I always know when I get there. I call it the ah! moment.

N: I know a lot of readers are also writers. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

GG: Write – and if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford it, write what you want to write rather than what the “market” wants. Write a book that you’d love to read, and other people will love it, too. And have the courage of your convictions. Don’t change major things just because an agent or an editor says that it will make your book more marketable. Write the very best book that you can write, and people will read it.

N: What books are you reading right now? Or, what are some favourite books of yours?

GG: I’m reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and The Ominvore’s Dilemma. And I’m also reading a Chinese novel (in Chinese) Cold Nights by Ba Jin. It’s a very visual, claustrophobic novel, and I’m going to try to adapt it into a play.

N: What’s next for you?

GG: Right now I’m working on another novel, Straw Sandals. It’s about a woman in Tang China (about the 7th century) who goes through life disguised as her dead, twin brother. And I’m also working on a book of non-fiction, Driving Chairman Bao. It’s about driving from Los Angles to Miami and rediscovering America after 32 years in Australia.

N: I know you’re busy so I’m trying to keep this short and sweet, so in summary: What question do interviewers never ask that you wish they would? And, what’s the answer?

GG: What an absolutely wonderful question! I always wish people would ask me, Why do you write? Not, Why did you write this book? But Why do you write?
I write because writing lets me invent entire worlds where I can live happily for months, sometimes years. I write because of the joy and excitement of getting to know people who only exist inside my head, and introducing them to other people, so that in a sense, they live. I write because writing is like a message in a bottle – you put your book out in the world, and you have no idea where it will go, how far it will go, who it will influence, who it may bring into your life, and how long it will last after you are gone. The books you write are, in a sense, your children. The poet Edna St Vincent Millay put it beautifully in her poem, The Poet and His Book:

Stranger, pause and look;
From the dust of ages
Lift this little book,
Turn the tattered pages,
Read me, do not let me die!
Search the fading letters, finding
Steadfast in the broken binding
All that once was I!

I think writing is the closest we get to immortality. And that’s why I write, because like all of us, I want to be immortal.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do this interview.

Many thanks to Gail for granting this interview, my first interview with an author. It's been fantastic and I hope to do it again. Thank you for reading and be sure to comment here and then check out my giveaway of Sea Changes!

Sea Changes Giveaway

I have decided to pass on my gently read copy of Sea Changes by Gail Graham to another set of hands. Check out my book review.

Description: Sarah Andrews feels lost and abandoned. Her daughter wants her to “move on,” her psychiatrist wants her to “heal her wounds,” and everybody else wants her to get over the fact that her husband has died. She decides that perhaps it would be best to end her life, so she heads to the beach with all intentions of never coming back.

But the sea has other plans for her. Instead of drowning, Sarah discovers a civilization under water, where, she believes, she’s met people from another dimension. When she finds herself alive, back on the beach, she’s not sure if the sea world was real or if the entire episode was a dream. But a second visit convinces her she wasn’t dreaming, and a young woman from below, Bantryd, comes back to live with her, to search for her parents who left the sea long ago.

GIVEAWAY RULES

To enter, simply head over to my interview with author Gail Graham and leave a comment, then come back here and tell me you did it. Make sure you leave me an email address with which to contact you. An extra entry for posting this giveaway elsewhere. This contest is open to the US and Canada. I will choose the winner using a random number generator on June 7th. Good luck to all!

Review: Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl w/ April Henry

A Triple Threat Novel

A seventeen year old Senate page home for her winter break takes the family dog for a walk and never comes home. During the course of the investigation into the girl's disappearance, it comes up that she might have been hiding darker secrets than just slipping away from her chaperones. It's up to FBI agent Nicole Hedges and federal prosecutor Allison Pierce to clear up the case. With the help of reporter Cassidy Shaw, they delve deeper into an investigation that gets more intense than they expected.

Does anyone else hear echos of the Women's Murder Club? There's a good reason. Wiehl's Triple Threat Club bears a striking similarity to James Patterson's famous team. And the novel progresses in much the same way, only somehow nicer. If you enjoy crime novels, but find them a little too graphic and sordid for your taste, this story might be right up your alley. I found that while there is certainly intrigue, shocks and crime, there was a feeling of removal, and the worst details aren't described as minutely as they might be in another book. I don't know what it says about me that I would have preferred a few more graphic details...

I enjoyed the side stories of each character almost more than the central storyline. Allison finds out she's pregnant on the same day she starts recieving terrifying death threats. Nicole, burned by men in the past, decides whether to take a chance on love again. Cassidy has a new man in her life, but he might not be the Mr. Perfect she thought he was. These sidelines really made the characters feel more real and interesting.

Final word: Just ok. The story just didn't quite have the oomph to maintain the pacing and suspense you would hope for in this type of novel.

Website for Lis Wiehl.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

Review: Sea Changes by Gail Graham

When Sarah's husband dies unexpectedly, Sarah feels as though her life has ended too. Lost in her grief, Sarah becomes numb to the world around her. Her daughter nags at her to get on with her life, but Sarah just can't seem to find the desire to do so. Eventually, thinking she has nothing left to live for, she decides to swim out in the ocean and die.

Things don't work out exactly the way Sarah planned. Instead of drowning, she finds herself in the middle of an underwater civilization, where she meets Bantryd and her uncle Xaxanader. Bantryd asks Sarah to take her back to the above-water world and Sarah agrees. It turns out that Bantryd is a dead ringer for a missing heiress, and life starts to get extremely complicated...

When I started this book I wasn't sure I would like it. It has a very mellow feel to it and took me a little while to get into the story. But once the story really got started, I loved it. I loved the whole undersea world concept, and the way the people who lived there were described. The descriptions in this book in general are fantastic; you'll want to linger over them.

This book, in case I didn't mention it, is set in Australia, and there are lots of insights on the culture. Sarah, an American, does not enjoy living in Australia, and does not approve of her daughter, Felicity, who has grown up an Australian. Not that I can blame her. Felicity is a shrew, harping on her mother to get over her grief and get on with her life. The interaction between the two of them gives Sea Changes a lot of interest.

I enjoyed the way that the very style of the writing managed to convey Sarah's slow transformation from the numbness of grief to an awakening desire to live. It's hard to describe, but the early parts of the story almost have a muffled quality that poignantly conveys Sarah's emotional state. It's like listening to someone talk about themselves in the third person.

"Sarah found herself moving the box of ashes uneasily from room to room, trying- she knows how this sounds- to make it comfortable."

Later on in the story, you can almost feel Sarah starting to take an interest again, like coming up from the water. The book as a whole has a very dreamlike quality about it. I was constantly wondering how much of what was going on was real. Even when the events of the book get very exciting, it maintained a certain mellow quality.

My final word: 4 out of 5. This lyrical novel conveys incredible emotional depth within a fascinating storyline.

Tune in Wednesday for a Q&A with Gail Graham, author of Sea Changes!
Website for Gail Graham.
Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

I learned a new word from this book! Chthonic (adj.): of or pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth.

New Arrivals! May 10 2009

In ye olde mailbox:
The Lost Hours by Karen White
Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl
Men with Balls by Drew Magary (my husband can't say the title without snickering... it's embarrassing)
The Turnaround by George Pelecanos
Made in the USA by Billie Letts
Ruby's Slippers by Leanna Ellis (somehow ended up with a second copy. I'm thinking maybe giveaway in the near future.)
Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein
Afraid by Jack Kilborn
Altogether, a pretty darn good week!

I went to the library with the best intentions of just dropping off my books and leaving, the better to make a dent in my to-read pile this week, but I saw a few things I just couldn't resist. It's a sickness. Pity me.
Wake by Lisa McMann
The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix (all three in one volume- it's MASSIVE)
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Slightly Off Topic: Look-Alike Covers

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But, let's face it- we all do. And I'm always fascinated when I find book covers that look similar to each other. I've found quite a few, so I'll probably talk about this in another Slightly Off Topic post at some point in the future. Today's covers are all of women and girls pictured in interesting ways. #1. Wing-tattooed female backs. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson vs. The Last Angel by Natasha Rhodes. (EDIT May 27: avisannchild , another blogger slightly obsessed with look-alike covers, mentioned another cover for this category: Abyssinian Proof. Thanks!) I actually don't know anything about either of these books. I found them while looking for a look-alike to another title. I think I may look them up now, though, just for the heck of it. For some reason The Last Angel looks like it would be a YA novel, while The Gargoyle is an adult novel. Just a guess. Anyone know? What I know is that I need to work out my back more...

#2. Women with only part of their faces showing. Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah vs. The Splendor of Silence by Indu Sundaresan. You can see almost nothing of either of these women, but they say a lot with their eyes. I think I like the Saffron Dreams cover more.

#3. Girls with wings! Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson vs. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr. Notice how both their faces are blurred or obscured so that the total emphasis is on the wings? I haven't read Ink Exchange, but I may have to look it up at least to see what it's about.

#4. Ivy by Julie Hearn vs. Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Did they use the same model? I guess it would save money if they can create several book covers from the same photo shoot. Even the font is similar.

That wraps it up for this round of Cover Look Alikes (Cover Cage Match?). So tell me, do book covers play a significant part in getting you to read, or at least take a look at, a book? Which cover from each pair do you like more? Which pair do you think are most similar?

Review: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

The human race is battling on the verge of destruction. A largely-unknown alien race called the Formics is about to win the war. The powers that be scour the planet, evaluating every child and selecting the best and brightest for training in Battle School, hoping to find the commander who can turn the tide of the battle. Enter Ender Wiggin. Ender is smart, tough and empathetic and he could be the world's best hope for survival. Ender's Game follows Ender through his training at Battle School, through Command School and on to the toughest final exam I've ever heard of.

This is a phenomenal book. I think it's usually classified as YA, but I read it for the first time as an adult and was blown away by the depth of the characters and the moral issues put forth. You cannot help but be sucked in by the story of six-year-old Ender, removed from his family and placed in the grueling competition and training at Battle School. The interpersonal dynamics really impressed me, as did the mind of young Ender. He's not necessarily an extremely believable character, because he just seems too wise for his age, but he is a very sympathetic character.

Without giving anything away, the ending of this book really threw me for a loop. Some people have told me they saw it coming, but it took me completely by surprise and I LOVE that.

This book completely sucked me in and kept me there. It's the kind of book with lots of moral issues that I can't help but wonder about, but it never felt sermonizing. Just an exciting story that makes you think without you even noticing.

Final word: 5 of 5. Must read. Out of curiousity, for those who have read this book, did you see the surprise at the end coming?

Click the book cover image to purchase from Amazon.

WINNER! Bloody Jack Giveaway

The lucky winner of Bloody Jack is Pissenlit! An email is on its way to you as we speak. Please send me your mailing address within 3 days or I will have to select a new winner. For those of you who didn't win, click the book cover image to purchase this book from Amazon.

In the battle between pirate hunters and pirates, the pirate hunters just barely won, with 19 to 18. Justice triumphs for another day!

I would also like to give credit to the people who understand using your powers for good vs. awesome. They are Kim, and Pissenlit. You have a special place in my heart. For those of you who don't get it, I direct you the Strongbad Email that started it all. Keep in mind that this is probably WAY funnier at 3am with lots and lots of coffee in your system.

Thanks everyone for entering my very first giveaway! I loved hosting it and I'll definitely be having more in the future. Right now I have two more giveaways ending soon: The Noticer by Andy Andrews and Made in the USA by Billie Letts.

Award and Contests - May 6 2009

So I was sitting here feeling bummed about my sad no-comment day, when I remembered that the lovely Jess from Find The Time To Read gave me the lovely blog award. Awww, thanks Jess. Jess's blog is very lovely as well, you should all (you know, all you non-commenters out there) go over and check it out.

And then I remembered something else that makes me happy... contests! So here are a couple of book giveaways that I rounded up for you.

I Heart Monster is giving away a copy of a superhero novel called Enemies and Allies. It sounds very fun, go check it out. I also love how her reviews are styled, so even if this book is not your cup of tea, go read the blog!

Books and Needlepoint is giving away audiobooks of Bonemans's Daughters by Ted Dekker. Very scary sounding book, so if that's your thing, go here.

In other news, I also noticed that lots of book bloggers have the Shelfari widget in their sidebar, and I want you to know I started a Shelfari group for us to all find each other.

And yet one more thing that makes me happy, I am nominated for best new blogger at the Hey, Teenager of the Year YA Book Blog Awards. Voting is open until May 15th, and I think you should vote for me!